Ministry of Health Collects 17,000 Human Genomes as of February 2026
The Ministry of Health has collected 17,000 human genetic data sets, or genomes, from Indonesian citizens through the end of 2025. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the thousands of genomes were collected through the Biomedical and Genome Science Initiative (BGSI) program, which has been running since 2022.
He stated that the thousands of pieces of genetic information were collected for a project to accelerate the development of the healthcare system. With a genome data bank, treatment will be directed toward an approach based on individual genetic profiles that is more accurate and efficient.
According to Budi, this system will prevent patients from receiving medications they should not be taking, making examinations far more targeted and budget-efficient.
“Our health examinations will become far more accurate, more precise, and more personalized. Automatically, the treatment can also be more targeted and effective in curing patients,” said Budi in a written statement from the Ministry of Health on Sunday, 15 February 2026.
There are currently 10 hospitals serving as genome collection network centers in Indonesia. Among them are Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Mahar Mardjono National Brain Hospital, Persahabatan Hospital, and several other vertical hospitals.
When met at the Ministry of Health office on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, Budi said his ministry is targeting the collection of 400,000 genomes by 2030. Therefore, going forward, genome collection will be scaled up to 100,000 per year.
“The target for 2030 is around four hundred thousand,” said Budi.
On that occasion, Budi acknowledged that collecting genomes in such large quantities raises public concerns about data misuse. However, according to him, government-led genome collection can actually control the spread of public genetic data currently scattered across various hospitals, both domestically and abroad.
Budi assured that the data will be managed with a high-level security system. With existing regulations in place, he is confident that genome data management will be safeguarded against leaks.
“With this, we will actually have control. If the question is about the security system, well, we are using a national-level security system,” he said.
The genome collection program through BGSI was first launched on 14 August 2022. As cited from the Ministry of Health website, Sehatnegeriku.kemkes.go.id, the genome research conducted by BGSI aims to develop treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, brain and neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic diseases, genetic disorders, and aging.